KENTLAND, IN — To stay ahead of its growing customer base and demand for its voice and data services, Verizon Wireless has activated a new cell site in Kentland and upgraded several others throughout northwest Indiana.

The new cell site improves the company's digital network coverage in the town of Kentland as well as along U.S. Highway 41 between Kentland and Morocco and along U.S. Highway 24 between Kentland and Remington.

Upgrades to other cell sites in northwest Indiana further improve wireless service for Verizon Wireless customers. These enhancements increase network capacity, enabling more residents and travelers in the following towns and areas to use the network concurrently:

Francesville

Monon

Medaryville

Brems

Hannah

Mt. Ayr

San Pierre

Star City

Parr

Interstate-65 between Egypt and Roselawn

U.S. Highway 421 between Monon and San Pierre

U.S. Highway 30 between Wanatah and Grovertown

U.S. Highway 35 between Bass Lake and Star City

As a result of these improvements, Verizon Wireless customers will experience fewer dropped calls and clearer reception while talking on their wireless phones, handling data applications (such as TXT and Picture Messaging) or downloading games and ring tones with the company's Get It Now® services.

"During the past year in Northwest Indiana, our customer base has grown and the average number of minutes our customers use with their wireless phones has increased, resulting in a 50 percent growth in volume on our network," said Greg Haller, presidentIndiana/Kentucky/Michigan Region, Verizon Wireless. "These network enhancements reflect our ongoing commitment to meet the growing needs of our customers and to provide them with the high quality of service they expect from Verizon Wireless."

These improvements are part of Verizon Wireless' continuous effort to increase capacity and augment the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Indiana and across the country. Nationally each year, the company invests about $1 billion every 90 days to improve and expand what is already the most reliable wireless network in the United States. Approximately $103 million of this investment will be spent this year to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless products and services in Indiana.

About Verizon WirelessVerizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 42.1 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.